Force Windows to enable dual monitors without monitors attached

[Fardringle]

I've been asked to resolve a problem for a small office where a couple of the employees will be working from home full time. They need to be able to connect remotely to computer(s) in the office to run their work programs. The main management program is a massive bandwidth hog so running it over VPN isn't a viable option, and they need to be able to use dual monitors to make use of the software effectively. The simplest solution is to just leave their computers as they are and have them connect remotely using LogMeIn as they have been doing in the past, but the boss wants the option to put their computers in the "server" room (a closet with a PC rack holding their server and some other equipment) without monitors so that he can use their desks for other people. This works fine with one monitor, but Windows 7 refuses to recognize/enable a second display without having two physical monitors connected.

So, I'm looking for something that will make Windows keep two "screens" active and available through the LogMeIn connection without having any monitors connected to the computer at all. Is this possible?

 

[Elixer]

Hmm, perhaps you can play around with these?
https://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/sysinternals/cc817881
http://ynea.futureware.at/cgi-bin/infinite_screen.pl

 

[Fardringle]

I'll try that Desktops 2.0 app tomorrow to see if LogMeIn recognizes them as separate displays when connected remotely or if it keeps them as just a split screen with multiple windows pretending to be separate displays. Hopefully it will work the way I want it to. Thanks!

The other one looks interesting, but I don't think it would work for this situation since I need Windows to recognize multiple separate displays because their management app has to be "full screen" on its own monitor.

 

[dave_the_nerd]

Dummy plugs may be useful here.

If they're Windows systems, I'm pretty sure the Microsoft Remote Desktop client will let you create a desktop sized to match whatever your local computer has for screens. I've done dual-monitor RDP sessions before.

 

[dave_the_nerd]

Here we go: http://www.techrepublic.com/blog/wi...rs-with-windows-7s-remote-desktop-connection/

 

[Fardringle]

RDP could work. The downside is convincing them to use that instead of the overpriced LogMeIn Central license that they already have for everyone to log in remotely as needed. I'm keeping that option as a last resort if I can't come up with another way to make it work.

I've looked into dummy plugs a bit, and they would probably work if I can find some that work with DisplayPort since the computers have one VGA and one or two DisplayPort connections. I have a few DP to DVI adapters and could use a DVI dummy plug with those except that I can't find any that are DVI-D. I've only found DVI-I plugs which won't work with a DisplayPort adapter.

I hate hard problems that should be easy...

 

[dave_the_nerd]

RDP could work. The downside is convincing them to use that instead of the overpriced LogMeIn Central license that they already have for everyone to log in remotely as needed. I'm keeping that option as a last resort if I can't come up with another way to make it work.

I've looked into dummy plugs a bit, and they would probably work if I can find some that work with DisplayPort since the computers have one VGA and one or two DisplayPort connections. I have a few DP to DVI adapters and could use a DVI dummy plug with those except that I can't find any that are DVI-D. I've only found DVI-I plugs which won't work with a DisplayPort adapter.

I hate hard problems that should be easy...

https://www.amazon.com/CompuLab-fit-Headless-Display-Emulator/dp/B00FLZXGJ6

Booyah.

 

[Fardringle]

I'd have to get some DisplayPort to HDMI adapters for that, but at least it's an option since I haven't found any DVI-D dummy plugs yet..

 

[dave_the_nerd]

DVI-D to HDMI would probably also work. The digital signals are basically six of one, half a dozen of the other.

 

[Fardringle]

The situation is that the PCs have one VGA (DSUB) output, and one or two DisplayPort outputs, so I need options that can connect to those specific outputs if I'm going to use the dummy plugs.

VGA is easy. DisplayPort not so much, since no direct DP plugs exist that I can find, no DP to DVI-I adapters exist that I can find (only DP to DVI-D), and I can't find any DVI-D dummy plugs (just DVI-I).

So, VGA dummy plugs and DP to HDMI adapters with HDMI dummy plugs seem to be the best option so far unless someone has a better idea. (DP dummy plugs would be ideal if they exist).